Starborough can shine

Saeed bin Suroor appears to have the Flat trainers' title pretty much wrapped up already. And he can consolidate his position at the top of the tree with a Glorious Goodwood treble today, courtesy of Starborough, Aljabr and Tajawuz.

Swain's victory for bin Suroor in Saturday's King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes clearly illustrated that in order to win a Group One race, it helps to have Group One form.

Applying this thought to today's £155,000 Sussex Stakes, it may be possible to unravel what at first looks a wide-open contest.

Starborough, who has Group One form by the bucket load, is the one who stands out.

The four-year-old, formerly trained by David Loder, finished a gallant second in last year's Sussex, attempting to make all and going down by just three-quarters of a length to Ali-Royal at the line.

Prior to that, Starborough won an ultra-competitive St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and also took a French Group One, the Prix Jean Prat.

On his final start for Loder, Starborough was sent off a prohibitive 6 to 5 favourite for the Prix Jacques Le Marois at Deauville but ran a below-par fourth to Spinning World.

Starborough has run only once this year, when sixth to Oriental Express in the Queen Elizabeth II Cup in Hong Kong back in April.

But he can be expected to come here fighting fit and can add to Godolphin's tally of big race triumphs.

Aljabr, currently 25 to 1 for next year's 2000 Guineas, looks more of a Classic prospect than the much-hyped Killer Instinct.

Unlike the latter, Aljabr tasted victory on his racecourse debut, winning with the minimum of fuss at Sandown when beating Lots of Magic four lengths.

Expect him to enhance his prospects in the £42,500 Lanson Champagne Vintage Stakes.

Tajawuz last raced in May when beating Ivory Crown one and a quarter lengths in a Lingfield maiden.

The runner-up has since franked the form and Tajawuz, who is open to plenty of improvement, is a possible blot on the weights for the Drayton Fillies' Handicap.

The £20,000-added Marriott Hotels Goodwood Handicap, run over the marathon trip over two and a half miles, could easily throw up a surprise result.

It can fall to Etterby Park. Mark Johnston's five-year-old only reappeared last week, finishing fifth of nine to Philosophic in a mile and three-quarter handicap at Wolverhampton.